Keeping up both mental and physical and social activities even after retirement can lower the risk for dementia and Alzheimer, the Swedish Daily reported on Saturday.

"We know that people with higher education have lower risk for dementia. Man simply trained their brain so that they get more cognitive reserve," said Laura Fratiglione, Professor in epidemiology department of Swedish Medical University Karolinska Institute.

"About 80 percent of people who are over weight at middle age tend to develop dementia later in life, thus the earlier the mental and physical training is carried out, the better, people should continue with their intellectual work even they have retired," Fratiglione suggested.

Fratiglione said the training not only refers to reading books or doing crossword, but also physical and social activities.

"It is difficult to separate the effect between physical training and the social activity, but if one trains in a group, it can give double effect," said Fratiglione.

"We are created to be used, if the brain does not get any impression, then its capacity will decrease," said Brun Ulfhake, professor in anatomy department of Karolinska Institute.

Exercise has shown a preventive effect for high blood pressure and many other diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. It can be conducive to preventing dementia too.

"There is a clear link between overweight and risk for both dementia and Alzheimer," Fratiglione added.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet